Horse riding isn’t a new hobby. In fact, we could have been doing it for as long as 5000 years according to new evidence, and in all that time it hasn’t fallen out of fashion! Whether riding horseback in the Wild West, jumping on a horse and carriage in the Victorian era or signing up for lessons in the present day, it remains ever popular.
It Gets People Out in Nature
Interacting with horses has many benefits for the rider – one of which is that it gets them into the great outdoors. With busy jobs and hectic lives, most people don’t spend as much time outside as they would like to. But, when you take up horse riding, the amount of time that you spend outdoors is inevitably going to increase. Visiting the stables, enjoying the nature trails in your local community or riding on your horse with others, is an activity that gets fresh air into your lungs and brings you outside all times of the year.
It Builds a Sense of Community
Another major factor in the sport’s popularity is its rich community. Often horse riding can be seen as a solitary activity, however many riders form deep connections with the horse that they ride with. An animal with excellent memory, it has been suggested that horses recall the people in their lives even after long periods of separation. So, the friendship between rider and horse is thought to be mutual. Plus, there is also a strong sense of community among the humans who share this hobby. Whether riding your own horse or enjoying the sport through racehorse shares, members of the equestrian community are full of passion and eager to connect with each other!
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It’s a Great Form of Exercise
Though it’s not the primary reason that most people ride, horse riding is a great form of exercise. An activity like trotting exerts more energy than a sport like badminton, according to Megan Hawkins from the British Horse Society. But, more generally, the hobby provides a cardiovascular workout, improves reflexes, sharpens hand-eye coordination and hones balance. Important for everyone, but particularly among the older generation, an exercise like horse riding provides strength and balance training that can reduce the risk of falls too.
It Provides a Sense of Purpose
And finally, horse riding instils the rider with a sense of purpose. Unlike some sports that have a short shelf life, such as football or hockey, horse riding is a lifelong hobby for a lot of people which they can continue well into older age. With a passion comes a sense of purpose – something that, according to Forbes, leads to higher levels of joy. This means that overall riders (with purpose) feel happier, not only when they are taking part in their hobby, but also for the rest of their lives, too!
